Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-26
LONDON. Aug. %.


ished as criminals without judicial inquiry
into the nature of their acts, and that the
House, in the absence of such information,
prsys that such proclamation may not con-
tInue IN force as to the association named
and described therein."
( Gladstone said that the Irish viceroy in
declaring that the league had melted vio-
lence, must have acted on information, but
where was the information The Irish chiefs
had the right to demand to know the grounds
| on which the gov eminent acted.
If the facts were withheld the opposition
must forthwith urge three propositions upon
the House and government
That it was slight and almost an outrage
on the dignity of Parliament 10 suppose that
it was to discharge such important statutory
duty without knowing the grounds.
Secondly, that il reduced to utter destruc-
tion and to absurdity the main contention the
government advanced during the discussion
of the crimes act and that the safeguard
promised had proved farce.
/ He asked what was the value or meaning
of parliamentary approval given in ignorance
of the facts?
Why not follow the course taken by Wei.
llngton and Peel in 1929 regarding the Cath.
olic league, and suppress it
Thirdly, what could the House think of
! information that they must thus know would
not bear the light?
Gladstone said he had always contended
that the government were legislating against
combinations apart from crime, and now it
was time for the government TO show that he
and his friends were wrong.
But the government shrank from the test
and declined the challenge. They had sub
stituted arbitrary will for legal action. This
principle was a dangerous and disgraceful
one in any country. especially in Ireland.
The great trouble there was that those who
administer it. especially local, were not in
sympathy with their feelings.
The proclamation of the National League
was a near approach to declaration of war
on the Irish people. Ireland in general sym
pathized wita the league because they be-
| lieved it had been their salvation. Parnel-
| lite cheers.
The governments action absolutely excu.
ded the House from anything except an alb
surd perfunctory operation in connection
with the great duty devolving upon it under
the statute.
Their cognizance of this proclamation was
reduced to mere farce. There would be no
jury, Judge. or resident magistrate. no par
lament to control Ireland. 1t would be moth
| ing but an absolute, unmitigated arbitrary
act of the Irish executive, which is necessa-
rily partisan.
| He hoped the Irish would continue to bear
the pressure and would not have to suffer
| long.
1t is certain they would not obey the law
through fear, (chesrs) but from strong, vivid
and buoysnt hope, which, even st the last
election, was not damaged, and which now
was brighter and livelier. Cheers. The
Irish believed that the governments policy
was not sanctioned by the British nation.
| Irish cheers.
/ The governments foundation was slipping
from under them. Their action in reference
| to the proclamation of the league showed that
their strength was fading. Ireland, seeing
this, trusted the English nation to fulfill her
reasonable wishes, and was convinced that
her expectations would not be disappointed
Gladstone then presented the resolutions
amid prolonged cheers.
Balfour said Gladstone would have been
wise had he rested his argument on the allie
CATION that the House was ignorant of the
grounds for the proclamation rather than on
the defense of the league. The government
difficulty was not in finding evidence to justi-
fy the proclamation rather than on the de-
fence of the league,
The mass OF evidence they possessed was
sufficient foundation to justify the proclama
ton in the columns of the local newspapers
without going into the governments conf
Dental reports.
Balfour argued that when Gladstone pro
claimed the league he did so when Parnell
was imprisoned by Parliament for not sit
ting; that he afforded no information to any
oae concerned. Balfour read from notes
citing instances of the leagues unlawful
acts.
Hsrcourt asked the speaker whether the
documents from which he quoted would be
submitted to the House.
Balfour refused to submit the documents
aud narrated other instances of the leagues
unlawful action.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt asked the
speaker whether Balfour was bound to table
the official documents cited
The speaker replied that Balfour was not
bound TO table continental documents, but
the case was different with Official papers
which the House might want to verify. [Op-
position cheers.
Harcourt said after the speakers ruling
II expect the papers to be tabled
Bafour said: ~ shall do nothing of the
kind"
The documents are of three sorts, public
and confidential papers, my own notes. II
the people realized the true nature of the
working of the league they would be regard
less of creed, party and the support of the
government. Ministerial cheers.
Balfour accused the opposition, through
Gladstone, of making themselves apologies,
therefore sccomplices in intimidation.
Harrington, nationalist, commented upon
the worthiessness of the documents which the
government refused to table. He said il
would be the duty of the league to continue
to work and not shlrk the consequences.
Buchanan, liberal unionist, said the gov
ernment's action was i'll timed.
Balfour has not given fair account of the
doings of the league, which, from the most
reliable data IN the possession of the House,
has been largely instrumental in having the
rents reduced
T. W. Russell, after remarking that Glad
stone had somewhat misconstrued some of
his statements, protested against the coercion
of the league, but said that having supported
the crimes bill he could not withhold from
the government the powers that they de-
msnded.
T. P. O'Connor, nationalist, said the effect
of the proclamation would be to remove the
PARTITION existing between the tenantry and
the evicting landlords.
On motion of Sir Geo. o. Trevelyan, the
debate was adjourned.
Chamberlain was absent from the House
during the debate.